Each year, when winter rolls around, people shudder from more than just the cold nights. There’s also a considerable amount of shivering going on at the prospect of several months of higher energy bills spent just trying to stay comfortable in your own homes. The good news is that you can temper those high energy costs with a little smart planning and a good game plan.
To give you a leg up, Jeremy Services is happy to offer a few pieces of expert advice on winter energy savings for our Kansas City area friends and neighbors:
Batten Down the Hatches!
You’d be surprised at how much energy escapes through leaky doors, around windows, and through the roof. Ditto for uninsulated walls and older windows. Cold air can even infiltrate through innocuous-looking electrical outlets! Here’s a checklist of jobs, small and large, to make your home into a fortress against the ravages of winter:
- Caulk and weatherstrip around doors and windows.
- If you can’t afford new windows right now, pick up some clear plastic at the hardware store and start sealing single pane windows.
- While you’re browsing at the hardware store, pick up some foam outlet insulators that slip in behind your electrical outlet covers to stop little energy leaks throughout your home.
- Check your attic’s insulation to see that it’s still doing its job and that there aren’t gaps around vents or knee walls. And make sure there’s some solid foam insulation attached to the hatch to the attic. This is a frequently overlooked area that can draw your heat up and right out of your house!
Let There Be (LED) Light!
Yes, LED lights are more expensive, but when you consider the energy they save and their long life, they’re well worth the initial outlay of cash. They’ll save you money on your electric bill this year, next year and for years to come!
Related Read: Choose LED Outdoor Lighting for the Winter
How Old Is Your Thermostat?
If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, you’re wasting money. They allow you to automatically turn the heat down before you go to bed and warm things up nicely by the time you’re ready to get up. Plus, you can set your program to lower your heat during your family’s school and work hours, and warm the house up again by the time everybody arrives home at the end of the day. Those savings can really add up versus setting an old thermostat at a constant temperature. You’ll save about 10% in energy costs when you turn your thermostat back 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours a day. (You can do the same in the summer by setting the AC up 7-10 degrees when gone all day.)
Related Read: Warm House, Low Bills – How to Set Your Programmable Thermostat for Fall
Consider Some New Equipment
It’s never fun to shell out money for a new HVAC system, but a new system definitely has its advantages. Today’s furnaces and air conditioning systems are far more efficient than models from even a decade ago. Replacing them will not only save you money on energy bills in the coming years, but it’ll increase your home’s value as well!
Related Read: 3 Factors to Consider When Purchasing a New Furnace
Talk to the pros at Jeremy Services for a free quote on a new, energy saving HVAC system. Call us today at (913) 375-0070 or contact us anytime you’re ready to start saving!
